By Victor Idujagi Jalingo
There is an ongoing sour relationship between Gov. Agbu Kefas of Taraba State and his strong political Aly, General Jeremiah Faransa (rtd), Chairman, Task force Committee on Illegal Mining and Deforestation over the circumstances sourounding the destruction of over N10 billion worth of government owned mining equipment in Akwana, Wukari local government of the state.
General Faransa (Rtd) holds two exhalted positions as Chairman, Taskforce committee on Illegal Mining and Deforestation as well as the Chairman of Taraba State Board of Internal Revenue Services.
During his last visit to Akwana mining site, Faransa allegedly ordered his team to set fire on all the mining equipment worth N10.5 billion Naira and burnt them.
The Akwana mining site which is located at the boarder between Taraba and Benue states, is believed to be richly endowed with Lithium, Gold and Sodium said to be in large deposits, has over the years been a centre of mining activities for both officials and Illegal miners.
Our investigation reveals that the equipment which includes two brand new Excavators, Soundproof MiKano Generators, Detecting Machines, motorcycles and other equipment used for such activities, were purchased by Governor Kefas through the Bureau for Solid Mineral Resources at the cost of about N10.5 billion early this year.
The Permanent Secretary, Taraba State Bureau for Solid Mineral Resources, Matsai David confirmed that after the purchase, he personally conveyed the mining equipment to Akwana on the directives of the Governor.
“I conveyed the mining equipment to Wukari on the directive of the governor, I am not answerable to the Taskforce. So when the governor comes back from the trip, I will give my explanation on the situation, for now, I reserve my comment” David disclosed when contacted over the incident.
The question by many Tarabans last week is whether Governor Kefas has also embarked on secret Illegal Mining activities. Citizens are wondering why the purchase of the mining equipment without the knowledge of the Chairman of the Taskforce committee on illegal mining?
Meanwhile, the Taraba Concern Citizens (TCC), a pressure group operating within the state has requested that both Gov Kefas and General Faransa owe the people of the state explanation why equipment procured with state funds amounting to a whopping sum of over N10.5 billion be destroyed by a committee set up by a committee set up by the state government.
The Coordinator of the group, Comrade Emos Tijani said, “we are calling on Governor Kefas to come out clearly and tell the people of the state why a Taskforce established by his government would destroy equipment worth Billions of Naira which was procured by tax payers money
“We the concern citizens are still confused of what led to the destruction of the mining equipment, is it that the Faransa led Taskforce is in disagreement with the state government? Or, is it that the governor and his government are also engaged in secret illegal mining activities without the knowledge of the Faransa committee? “he questioned.
The action of General Faransa to burn down the equipment of such magnitude is still questionable as why couldn’t the committee confiscate the equipment which would have served as exhibit and would have justified their claims of having illegal miners operating in the state.
There are feelers that the general has his hidden plans to begin his own private Mining business in the area and as such destroyed the government’s equipment with the motive to frustrate the government’s mining business.
There are other suspicions from different quarters that the General was bringing in partners who mostly are powerful retired generals who are into mining business and who had been his godfathers while he was serving in the military.
According to a source who was at the mining site during the destruction at Akwana told our correspondent last week that the Chairman, Gen. Faransa, had told them that the equipment belonged to illegal Miners who always hide to harness mineral resources in the state.
National update investigation reveals that Governor Kefas has since fallen apart with General Faransa following his alleged excesses and secret dealing, including arrogating powers to himself as Chairman of the Taskforce.
It was gathered that during the raid by Faransa’s Taskforce on several mining locations in the state few months ago , the Taskforce recovered different kinds of mineral resources amounting to billions of naira from illegal miners, but the items were later sold and the proceeds were allegedly diverted to personal pockets.
These and many other reasons was responsible to why Governor Kefas in April this year appointed Faransa as Chairman Taraba state board of internal revenue to relief him of the position of the Taskforce committee Chairman.
It was gathered that since his appointment as Chairman, board of internal revenue, Faransa has vowed not to relinquish his position as Taskforce committee on Illegal Mining.
Aside from his refusal to relinquish the position of the Taskforce Chairman, Faransa sometimes last week allegedly wrote to the office of the State Accountant General directing that the AG must henceforth furnish his office with details of all revenue acrueing to the state, including monthly federal allocations.
Again, General Faransa under the board of internal revenue is currently recruiting boys loyal to him to handle collections of revenue on heads and sub-heads that are domicile in all the MDAS in the state, thereby depriving the professionals and technical officers in Ministries, Departments and Agencies from doing their duties.
It was however gathered that this development did not go down well with Governor Kefas who according to sources viewed Faransa as arrogating too much powers to himself and over stepping his bounds.
Sources reveals that for the past three weeks, Governor Kefas has shot his doors against Faransa, including declining to pick all his phone calls.
All efforts by our correspondent to reach General Faransa, the Chairman of the Taskforce committee on Illegal Mining and Deforestation proved abortive.
The Senior Special Assistant to Governor Kefas on media and communication, Hon. Emmanul Bello told our correspondent that the appropriate person to comment on the matter was the Permanent Secretary Bureau for Solid Mineral Resources, Mr. Matsai David who earlier confirmed his office purchased the mining equipment on the directives of the Governor.